Benjamin Franklin Cook
A prominent young citizen of Madison township, Fayette county, Ohio, is Benjamin Franklin Cook, station agent and telegraph operator at Madison Mills and also a merchant of that place. Born and reared in this county, he has spent his entire life within its limits, and is known as a young man of exemplary habits, tireless energy and a man who will always stand for the best interests of his community. He has been connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company for twelve years, which is sufficient evidence that his work is regarded as satisfactory in every way.
Benjamin F. Cook, the son of Benjamin F. and Fannie J. (Bennett) Cook, was born at Cook's Station, Ohio. March 22, 1880. His father, who was a son of Isaac T. and Elizabeth ( Lewis) Cook, was born March 14, 1838, and his mother was born January 18, 1856, the daughter of Levin and Susan (Bennett) Lewis. Isaac T. Cook was born March 6, 1797. and died April 9, 1873. Elizabeth (Lewis) Cook was born January 15, 1804, and died November 30, 1872. Benjamin Franklin Cook, Sr.. was a graduate of Oberlin College, and a man of prominence and influence in his county. He was married January 26, 1879, to Fannie J. Bennett, and to this union have been born six children: Benjamin F., Jr., Elizabeth, Madge, Scott, Mary and James B. Elizabeth married C. E. Hopkins and has two children, Franklin and Margaret; Madge married T. E. Hughes; Scott married Helen Cheneworth and has one son, William B. ; Mary is the wife of Wilbur Hornbeck, and has one daughter, Ruth M.; James B. also is married.
Benjamin F. Cook. Sr., served through the Civil War as a sergeant in Company H, Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated with his regiment in many of the hard fought battles in Virginia. He was captured by the Confederates at Harper's Ferry in 1862, but was later paroled and returned home.
Benjamin F. Cook, Jr., received a good, common school education and then entered Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he took the commercial and telegraphic course. Immediately after graduating from that school he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company as station agent and telegraph operator at Madison Mills, and has been stationed at Madison Mills since 1902. In addition to his service with the railroad company, he is a partner in the firm of Maddux & Cook, dealers in general merchandise in Madison Mills.
Mr. Cook was married January 28, 1902, to Clara Terry, the daughter of Silas and Eliza (Bostwick) Terry, and to this union have been born three children, Mary E., Fannie E. and Annette E.
Politically, Mr. Cook has always given his hearty support to the Republican party, but such has been the nature of his work that he has never felt inclined to take an active part in political matters. Fraternally, he is a memdeputy grand chancellor. He and his family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose welfare they are interested and to the support of wliicb they are liberal contributors.
Mr. Cook is a young man of approachable manner and takes a kindly interest in the welfare of his fellow citizens. He has a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout this section of the county who admire him for his many good qualities.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)